First-year coach Ron Moore welcomed back teams led by seniors who had experience at state, the girls having qualified for the state tournament as a team for the first time ever last year.
For the boys, Kolton Ertsgaard and Carson Smith would have led a team of sophomores, most with varsity experience. Moore said he anticipated frequent intrasquad playoffs to determine varsity positions. He said the Huskies had “probably four, maybe five sophomores who will have opportunity to play varsity.”
Lexi Schilling and Brook Womack were back as seniors to lead the girls in another run at the state tournament.
The team was also getting coaching help from former Husky Mike Wilkerson, a 25-year PGA pro who had recently moved back to Sweet Home after 30 years as a golf instructor at Royal Oaks in Vancouver, Wash.
“The nice thing about it is they’re not just hitting balls, they’re getting coached,” Moore said of Wilkerson’s contributions. “I’ve coached several of these boys in other sports, so I kind of know them. I don’t think they realize yet how special it is to have Mike Wilkerson. He’s forgotten more golf than I know.”
The team also had received a wave of support from the community, including donations from Burke Logging, Advanced Mechanical, Creditors Collection Service Inc., Keesecker Insurance and Direct Flooring, which helped cover participation fees ($200 per player at Mallard Creek) and the purchase of new uniforms and rain gear and some equipment, Moore said.
“It’s pleasing to know our community always steps up when there’s a need,” he said. “Golf’s not a cheap game.”